PETERHOUSE NOSTALGIA

... MEMORIES ...

1991 : SPRINGVALE HOUSE TOUR TO KENYA

Friday 25th October

Left Springvale House after 8.00 am Assembly. No problems at Customs on way out. Children bought up most items under $40 at Duty Free - battery operated pistols with 8 different modes seemed most popular. Boarded at 1045 and took off shortly afterwards. Moved watch on one hour. Main activity was to collect as many used cans and plastic plates etc, etc, as soon as possible (average of 7 cans per kid!) Flew over and up Lake Malawi at 1.00 pm. Managed to swop my pink blancmange for Jack's egg mayonnaise. Pete organised trips up to cockpit and Stan took over the reins at 1400 hrs as it began to get bumpy. Rita plus 7 or 8 screaming kids witnessed thunderstorm as plane threw them to the deck. Stan had obviously handed over to Gavin! Landed at 1425 very pleased to be on Terra Firma. Made sure all cans left behind! Air Zim didn't have any Immigration cards and so passports had to be handed out and party had to complete them. What a mess - definitely something we should practice at school! At 1530 hrs we were met by James from Kenton but no bus! Overcast, but warm, London taxis everywhere! At 1630 bus eventually arrived. Luckily it had a roofrack.. Trip to Kenton fairly exciting with me having to close my eyes on several occasions as we weaved our way past every type of vehicle imaginable. PM of New Zealand on way home from Chogm in Nairobi -- cops everywhere lining route. Giraffe spotted by myself and Maribou stork by Pete - living near city centre! 1715 arrived at Kenton. Began to rain. Girls in small dorm near refrigeration compressor and boys in another dorm. Pete and Rita in rooms and myself in HMs house. Had my first Tusker -- very fizzy.

Saturday 26th October

Rise 6.00 - overcast. No tennis. Saw Mark Milbank plaques scattered high and low. To Nairobi to change UAPTA's - nobody wants more than 200! They didn't tell me that! Coffee at Norfolk Hotel -- "Out of Africa" and then back to Kenton. Rita organised matches for girls while boys began play at 1100. Kenton batting 118 for 7 at lunch. Excellent roast pork, pity Ish not here. Downpour at 137 for 8 and more later. Springvale House 60 for 6 with Hilton and Strati batting well again. Gavin and David lashing out without a care with 15 minutes to go! Rain too hard -- light fading - match abandoned! Barbeque rained off so staff room supper and video for kids.

Sunday 27th October

Rise 0630 - Mini Olympics with mixed teams: cross country, swimming, soccer, hockey, tennis, volleyball and rounders. Great fun and great run from Hilton - who says the Kenyans are the top cross-country side in the world! Free swim and leave at 1154. Staff friendly, kids nice but very unruly. Great when you are on your own with one, but together they are fairly lively -- is that the word? Arrive Hillcrest 1200. Met by David Milne, Christine and Joanne (who had very nice legs). Asked to leave luggage in corridor -- Askari and security firm so no probs. JBC rather selfishly asks to leave his in David Milne's office and carries on his person, as always, passports, tickets, travellers cheques and cameras. Bar not set up. Springvale House does this well and we are treated to "aborigine gut rot" and more fizzy beer. Very nice buffet lunch. 39 different nationalities at Hillcrest - very cosmopolitan. Report at 1445 hrs after meeting hosts to find 4 suitcases stolen and 5 cars broken into - well done Askari and security firm! Dredged up memories of old BSAP days and compiled statements while Police, who had no transport, were collected. Consoled Rita Pete, Stan and Shane - not a great start.

Monday 28th October

All meet at Hillcrest -- matches to start at 1030. JBC to Nairobi to see if we can fly back a day earlier -- no go! Girls play sort-of- tennis and boys 128 for 3 at lunch. End up 143 for 6, Hillcrest 60 all out. Girls just lose rounders - pity Leigh-Anne had a migraine! All to Claire and Batook Jetwa for barbeque and a good evening had by all. Cherry Broatch and Judy Allers, both members of staff at Hillcrest kindly helping us arrange our trips to Mr Kenya and Mombasa.

Tuesday 29th October

Free day. All meet at Hillcrest in civvies ready for tour tomarket, museum, snake park and giraffe sanctuary. Tourleader Margaret Piper now teaches at St John's Prep inHarare. Market fascinating as kids soon get into swing of bargaining - Jack probably best suited. Noted how somechildren had been given extra money by hosts - very unfair as other children had to make do with my meagre allowance. Giraffe sanctuary superb and apart from rather long and boring 'survival' video -- a super time. Back to Hillcrest where children collected by hosts. JBC to dinner with Philipino Ambassador at Rickshaw Chinese Restaurant.

Wednesday 30th October

After consultation with Cherry decide to self-cater at Naro Maru and set about menus etc. Talk of reimbursing us 9000.00 shillings for stolen kit but we would have to pay in pounds sterling - no go as far as I am concerned. Visited Annan Aswan, our friendly Camping Safaris proprietor, to arrange Tiwi trip. Seems plausible sort but I'm afraid I'm very wary. JBC treated to lunch by Cherry and Graham Broach at the Carnivore. Banda cricket and tennis began at 1400 hrs. In no time at all our cricket side was in trouble! Subsequently learnt that quite a few of the children had been wined and dined the night before in Nairobi and had only got to bed very very late! The tennis players played well with a superb exhibition match between our Ist couple and their top couple. Rain at end of play but a good win for us. Rounders started after a shower and thank goodness for Vicky Arkell, the only determined looking Springvale House girl. Rather a disappointing day as we were well beaten at cricket and rounders. Children obviously tired and lacked concentration -- problem of billeting out! Banda a lovely school with over 400 children. Barbeque in Quad and presentation of ties etc after an enjoyable dinner. Kenya beers still too fizzy - and Kenya kids very noisy. Good for our lot as they were able to let their hair down and muck in playing boys/girls combined touch rugby by moonlight.

Thursday 31st October

Colours awarded to Janey and Richard. Left Panda at 1000 hrs in Hillcrest bus with groceries. Kids in fine fettle considering prospect of the long drive to Naro Maru. Drive north on fairly good roads, (had to be as no suspension on bus). Passed the famous town of Thika. Lots of sugar and pineapples. Lovely countryside through Muranga to Nyeri, passed through Nyeri near Aberdare National Park Mount Kenya beacons up on right but under thick cloud. Arrive at Mountain Lodge at 1400 hrs. Very disappointed. Not at all like I expected. Went to see James Mbugua the general manager who told us that the children could stay free in the bunkhouses and the three staff could stay in a lodge. Made our way to bunkhouses - awful!! Copious amounts of horse manure both inside and out - no fire place, no toilets, ugh! Calderwood now the heightened diplomat returns to James to try bargaining and befriends him for life when offered two lodges for us all to sleep in at no charge whatever! Lists of teams drawn up on rotation, cooks, cleaners and washers-up. Not long before we get use of tennis court, squash court and magnificent pool over- looking Mt Kenya. JBC proves that there are NO fish in river and Pete wanders off with merry men to identify) the multitude of beautiful birds. Absolute bliss with kids behaving and working together like absolute stars; am really proud of them. They had a marvellous time and at no time did I have to warn them about considering the other guests. Thank you James.

Friday Ist November

Travel to Mt Kenya National Park on side of mountain. Bus late - Bernard washing it! The mountain is 17530 ft above sea level and climbed in 3 stages. We were to travel to stage 1. Travelled 18kms from Naro Maru to Park fence. Bus overheated after climb of two and a half thousand feet! Park entrance 220 shillings for adults, 25 shillings for children -- it would cost us $250.00 just to drive Ikm to first stage. Took photos and turned back! Kids walked down and we collected them after sorting out bus. Unusual airstrip on mountainside shaped like a new moon. White warden has a plane. Lunch of pitta bread -- grateful to Vicky for showing me how to cook them! Afternoon trout fishing, tennis and swimming -- some good friendships developing, Michael and Arjun, Sarah and the swimming pool. Bangers and boiled potatoes, beans, salad, cheese, water melon and bed. A lovely day.

Saturday 2nd November

Set off on 3 hour trip to St. Andrew's Turi which took 5 hours and arrived at 1340 for a 1500 hr start. Played rounders (tennis rained off) and were beaten by some strong girls. Cricket interrupted by rain but carried on. Michael Redfern saved day and we won in the last over.Rain again. Dismal supper - terrible atmosphere amongst staff: Had one drink and early bed. A strange place, beautiful site for the school but just lacking something.

Sunday 3rd November

Left at 0902 for Pembroke. JBC with van taking kit and Pete and Rita in upmarket St Andrew's bus. Took photos of Lake Nakuru with flamingoes - out of this world. Passed Lake Elmenteita and turned in at Gilgil to stay with Richard and Rachel Foster. Lovely school. Awful cricket. Stopped for lunch at Colonial Club and then cricket and tennis continued. Met Tim and Rachel at supper (restaurant owners near Turi) who said "call us if your wandering Indian doesn't show on the beach"!

Monday 4th November

Rare treat -- taken to Lake Elmenteinta. Saw at close range Thompsons gazelles, flamingoes, pelicans and Masai warrior. Left at 1000 hrs for Nairobi and joined herds of zebra and Tommies etc. on the road! No game fences - they wander in amongst the villages - beautiful countryside. Stopped and took photos of Naivasha and Longono Craters. Soapstone bargains - still haven't bought anything and regret not buying at this viewpoint. Strati buys a sheepskin - should come in handy on the farm back in Wedza!! Arrived Nairobi 1200 hrs and off to a bank to cash travellers cheques for Mombasa with Terry and Pete. Checked in at airport and flew in Fokker 500 to Mombasa. Superb flight as we landed safely! Brilliant view of Kilimanjaro. Landed at sunset, temperature 28 degrees centigrade and muggy. Two buses there to pick us up -- so far so good. Trip to Turi with Ferry crossing interesting to say the least! Vicky again very useful - has done it before! Finally arrived at campsite near beach. Tents on soil - ablutions smelt very close by. Our hosts decided to have an all night session and their cigarettes smelt quite funny. Michael and Sarah ensured that I didn't sleep at all with their wheezing and coughing.

Tuesday 5th November

Very disappointed on waking to find the tide out and beach covered with sea weed. Went for a walk and on return met proprietor of Tiwi Cottages which had clean beautiful pool. Kissinger Calderwood negotiates use of pool and facilities buckshee! beautiful snorkelling -- lots of fish. Fish for lunch. JBC learns how to survive for three days without meat while Pete and Rita Pig themselves on crab and curried prawns! Kids having a ball, grubby but happy and have now perfected how to open coconuts -- huge pile of discarded ones opened one by one. Life not so bad.

Wednesday 6th November

0730 hrs set out on Great Trek to Safari Reach Hotel. At 0800 hrs Rita reckons we must be close but JBC says we are only quarter of the way there. Dismay by all especially girls. Keep walking. Hotels and tourists getting thicker and thicker. Rita pays 4 times what she thought for a shell - the Kenyans love Rita. Stop under shade of rocks; water now short. Old chap exercising on beach in excellent physical condition looks a bit like Pete and me. Off again -- getting even hotter -- pass two Aussies on camel -- and arrive at 1100 hrs, bushed! Safari Beach Hotel absolutely beautiful. Kids again behave marvellously. Some swim in the sea, others bargained - Gavin got two beautiful giraffes for almost nothing. Pity one didn't have a head and the other only 3 legs. Stan managed to buy some very useful chess pieces. Had picnic lunch. Felt a bit like JC two pieces of cheese and 5 rolls. Saw three types of monkey here, Colebis, Somago and Vervet and of course there was Woody. Left at 1600 hrs for lift. The Mutata's could see our predicament and tried, each one in turn, to rip us off: Kissinger Calderwood back to plead at hotel and Mr Mahommed gives permission for us to use hotel transport. Back late and guess what, yes, fish for supper! Kids tired and Sarah and Michael warned that if they were to cough all night I would throw them off ferry into harbour on their return. Kids interacting well, no outcasts or misfits. General air of playfulness but I'm pleased to see consideration for others around them.

Thursday 7th November

Lovely morning on beach where Pete and Rita organise game of rounders. On return David has a windfall - finds equivalent of $96 on beach! Apparent for first time that kids are thinking of home. On return we all go to Twiga Cottages for a swim and then lunch. Topless bathers cause quite a sensation and our lads decide to frolic on beach (over 480 kms in length) in one particular place. Side glances perfected by all but Hilton. Crab hunting on beach an absolute education with Stan, Woody, Jack, Hilton and David miraculously surviving! Staff have a sundowner at Twiga cottages -- alone at last while kids shower etc ready for final supper. All the tourists we meet remark on how well behaved the children are - quite unusual these days it would seem.

Friday 8th November

Surrounding campers have the most awful all-night party and 0430 departure time cannot come soon enough. French roast breakfast, farewells to Asad our camping courier, and off to Mombasa. Mombasa crazy even at that time in the morning. Second breakfast served on flight and Cherry waiting at Nairobi to accompany us to Airways Club. Swim and repack -- we had only taken 4 cases with sleeping bags and a kit-bag each to the coast. Toasted sandwich and coke for lunch. Reach airport at 1330 to be told flight will only, leave at 1930 hrs. It eventually leaves at 2045. No money, no food or drink for 7 and half hours and absolutely NO help from Mr A Sithole, our friendly Air Zim Kenya manager. Felt ashamed to be a Zimbabwean for the first time ever. What tourists to our country must think of Air Zim I don't know. Arrive in Harare at 1030 Zimbabwe time to the tumultuous drunken welcome of all our parents. Great to be back.

I would like to mention, yet again, what great ambassadors our children were. Springvale can be proud of them and you, as parents, can rightly be proud of them too. My thanks to Pete, Rita and the kids - we learnt a great deal and if such a tour takes place again it will certainly be easier to co-ordinate after our experiences.

From the diary of J B Calderwood

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